BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
LOS ANGELES, CA – Among a distinguished gathering the Navin & Pratima Doshi Bridgebuilder Award was presented to biologist and author Dr Rupert Sheldrake at Loyola Marymount University here on Sept 16.The award is given to ‘bridgebuilders’ who attempt to narrow the gap between science and spirituality,
LOS ANGELES, CA – Among a distinguished gathering the Navin & Pratima Doshi Bridgebuilder Award was presented to biologist and author Dr Rupert Sheldrake at Loyola Marymount University here on Sept 16.The award is given to ‘bridgebuilders’ who attempt to narrow the gap between science and spirituality,
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east and west. In his research Sheldrake contends that not only is religion dogmatic but science too is ridden with dogmas. In his book ‘Science Set Free’ he examines ten such dogmas of science, collapsing what are thought to be rigid boundaries between science and spirituality. The award was presented to Sheldrake by Doshi along with Chris Chappel, the Navin and Pratima Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at LMU, and Dean of College of Liberal Arts Dr. Robbin Crabtree . Commenting on the plaque, Chappel said it was round, crystalline and clear and represented Sheldrake invitation to all to shine and see connectivity and resonate with one another as human beings.In his welcome address and introduction of Sheldrake Doshi focused on four of the ten dogmas of science examined by Sheldrake in his book. Like religion science has also become institutionalized as hard boundaries are drawn based upon bias and beliefs Agreeing with Sheldrake, Doshi went on to comment on these dogmas supporting his critique through the lens of Indic tradition. The laws of nature are fixed; not true according to Indic tradition. Prakriti, meaning nature, is always changing, it is never absolute. Nature is purposeless, and evolution has no goal or direction; again not true. The link between Purusha and Prakriti indicates that light is pure action with purpose.We all have purpose in our lives. Mind is inside the head; again, not true. Mind has no location in space time continuum. Mind, as I understand, is linked to the all pervading consciousness. We could call it a quantum or morphic connection. Materialists also believe in upward causation, meaning they believe in the primacy of the matter over mind and equated to consciousness. Eastern traditions believe in downward causation where consciousness, that is Brahman, is the highest state of being, followed by the mind and the body that is matter.
There is a war waging at present between materialists and idealists like Sheldrake and Hagelin. Doshi described the two as‘freedom fighters’like Gandhi and King, who are fighting to free philosophy from the shackles of hard materialists. The stand taken by these idealists, implies an affirmation of the Vedantic tradition that there is an ultimate self-conscious reality, subjectively it is infinite bliss, and objectively an infinite in any quality and value that expresses and experiences itself.
Accepting the award , Sheldrake expressed gratitude saying it was a great honor to be recognized for his work which focuses on unknown facts about plants and the unique and unexplained behavior of animals like homing pigeons. He has now extended his study to similar phenomena in people – like the sense of being stared at. In his keynote address he went on to talk about people in his life who were bridge builders saying he was always drawn and attracted to such people. He started off with his father , a herbalist and pharmacist in England who he said inculcated in him his love for plants and animals. A devout Methodist, his father saw no conflict between science and religion. Among the other bridge builders who impacted his life were Father Bede Griffiths who had an ashram in Tamil Nadu . Sheldrake lived for a year at the ashram where he wrote his first book ‘A New Science of Life.’ Reminiscing about his time in India with The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad he describes it as a ‘wonderful’ period of his life where he got to practice Transcendental Meditation and engage in Hindu and Sufi culture. Krishna Moorti was another bridge builder whom he met and spend great times with in Ojai. Apart from individuals he spoke of a bridge building group – the ‘Epiphany Philosophers’ who made him see things in a different light during his student days at Cambridge studying the behavior of plants.
In conclusion Sheldrake reiterated his position that the materialist worldview was falling apart with a whole range of possibilities of science opening up. The problem with scientist was they did not think they had a world view but the truth! With dogmatic assumptions now crumbling a new era of dialog and bridge building were in progress.
Continuing this thread of thought, John Hagelin, professor of physics at the Maharishi University in Iowa, debunked the notion of materialists that everything in the universe is ‘understood’. “They think they have the universe figured out, so don’t rock the boat,” . However, evolution of science is now starting to give an new insight into phenomenon like morphic resonance and quantum correlations which is earlier years were taboo. He lauded the Doshi award for celebrating the ‘unconventional and bold.’
Eric Strauss LMU President’s professor of biology serving as director of the Center for Urban Resilience, spoke about his research on coyotes and the bigger question of thinking and consciousness in animals and ecology.
The program wrapped up with a conversation between Sheldrake, Hagelin and Strauss after which a lively Q& A session followed in which the audience was given a chance to engage with the speakers.
There is a war waging at present between materialists and idealists like Sheldrake and Hagelin. Doshi described the two as‘freedom fighters’like Gandhi and King, who are fighting to free philosophy from the shackles of hard materialists. The stand taken by these idealists, implies an affirmation of the Vedantic tradition that there is an ultimate self-conscious reality, subjectively it is infinite bliss, and objectively an infinite in any quality and value that expresses and experiences itself.
Accepting the award , Sheldrake expressed gratitude saying it was a great honor to be recognized for his work which focuses on unknown facts about plants and the unique and unexplained behavior of animals like homing pigeons. He has now extended his study to similar phenomena in people – like the sense of being stared at. In his keynote address he went on to talk about people in his life who were bridge builders saying he was always drawn and attracted to such people. He started off with his father , a herbalist and pharmacist in England who he said inculcated in him his love for plants and animals. A devout Methodist, his father saw no conflict between science and religion. Among the other bridge builders who impacted his life were Father Bede Griffiths who had an ashram in Tamil Nadu . Sheldrake lived for a year at the ashram where he wrote his first book ‘A New Science of Life.’ Reminiscing about his time in India with The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad he describes it as a ‘wonderful’ period of his life where he got to practice Transcendental Meditation and engage in Hindu and Sufi culture. Krishna Moorti was another bridge builder whom he met and spend great times with in Ojai. Apart from individuals he spoke of a bridge building group – the ‘Epiphany Philosophers’ who made him see things in a different light during his student days at Cambridge studying the behavior of plants.
In conclusion Sheldrake reiterated his position that the materialist worldview was falling apart with a whole range of possibilities of science opening up. The problem with scientist was they did not think they had a world view but the truth! With dogmatic assumptions now crumbling a new era of dialog and bridge building were in progress.
Continuing this thread of thought, John Hagelin, professor of physics at the Maharishi University in Iowa, debunked the notion of materialists that everything in the universe is ‘understood’. “They think they have the universe figured out, so don’t rock the boat,” . However, evolution of science is now starting to give an new insight into phenomenon like morphic resonance and quantum correlations which is earlier years were taboo. He lauded the Doshi award for celebrating the ‘unconventional and bold.’
Eric Strauss LMU President’s professor of biology serving as director of the Center for Urban Resilience, spoke about his research on coyotes and the bigger question of thinking and consciousness in animals and ecology.
The program wrapped up with a conversation between Sheldrake, Hagelin and Strauss after which a lively Q& A session followed in which the audience was given a chance to engage with the speakers.
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